29 Years Ago, King of the Hill’s Most Iconic Guest Star Made His First Appearance (Setting Up a Big Twist)

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The recent return of King of the Hill on Hulu has been a major success. The show picked up years after its original ending, revealing that Hank and his family had been living in Saudi Arabia. While most of the familiar faces were back in Arlen, Texas, one celebrity guest star was noticeably absent from the new fourteenth season. King of the Hill is known for its celebrity appearances – sometimes playing themselves, sometimes fictional characters – but one star, in particular, has had a significant impact on Hank Hill’s life.

Trumpet player Chuck Mangione first appeared as an animated character in the first season of King of the Hill, in the episode “Luanne’s Saga.” He was featured as a spokesperson for “Mega-Lo Mart,” a fictional store similar to Wal-Mart and Target. Given that Luanne worked there and the store was popular in Arlen, Mangione became a recurring character, appearing in several storylines throughout the series.

A particularly memorable moment for actor Tom Magnione was the season two finale of King of the Hill. When the Mega-Lo Mart exploded, endangering several characters, his character, Chuck, was caught in the blast. Though Chuck survived, the experience deeply affected him, and Magnione took a break from the show after the first few episodes of season three. Given his significant contributions as a well-known guest star, it’s understandable why he wasn’t involved in the recent King of the Hill revival.

King of the Hill’s Chuck

A surprising moment for Chuck Mangione came when the show revealed he was living inside Mega-Lo Mart stores. He hadn’t fully read his contract and was obligated to appear at every store opening. Rather than constantly traveling, Chuck decided to live in the stores, both to fulfill his contractual obligations and to get back at the company for what he felt was a trick. The episode, “Megalo Dale,” never showed him breaking his contract, leading fans to believe he may have continued living in various Mega-Lo Mart locations even after the episode ended.

Though artist Magione passed away last July at age 84, he recently appeared in a cameo on King of the Hill using a cardboard cutout. While the show hasn’t explicitly acknowledged his character’s death, it’s unlikely they’ll recast the trumpet player. Instead, he’ll probably continue to appear through images or similar tributes. Given the show’s setting and continuity—Mega-Lo Mart still exists in the fictional town of Arlen, Texas—there are plenty of ways the series can honor his memory.

Fortunately, King of the Hill will likely have future chances to honor Sergio Mangione. Last year, Hulu announced the show’s revival would include a fifteenth season, as well as plans for seasons sixteen and seventeen. Given the positive response to the revival led by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, it’s no surprise the streaming service wants to continue exploring this updated version of the Texas town. While a release date hasn’t been announced, some reports suggest the next season could arrive later this year.

What are your thoughts on Chuck Mangione’s appearance in King of the Hill? Share your opinions in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-16 20:10